The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to ensure all 36 states participate in the $500 million World Bank–assisted loan facility under the HOPE Governance Programme.
This was revealed on Thursday in a statement by the programme’s spokesperson, Joe Mutah. The initiative aims to strengthen governance systems, particularly in basic education and primary healthcare, to improve service delivery nationwide.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah Odoh, said the ministry is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure every state signs the Subsidiary Loan Agreement required to access the funds.
Odoh made the remarks in Abuja while receiving the World Bank HOPE Governance Team on a courtesy visit. She explained that timelines have already been developed to fast-track the process and ensure quick participation by states.
“We have been strategizing with the Federal Ministry of Finance… We will put in extra efforts to make it happen faster given the time constraints,” she said, adding that the ministry would provide institutional support to ensure meaningful impact.
World Bank Task Team Leader for the programme, Ikechukwu Nweje, urged the ministry to engage state governments swiftly so they can sign the agreement and access funds once disbursement-linked results are verified.
He emphasized that weak governance remains a major obstacle to improved outcomes in education and primary healthcare, noting that the programme was designed to address these gaps and unlock better service delivery.
National Coordinator of the HOPE Governance Programme, Dr. Assad Hassan, added that the meeting reviewed milestones achieved so far and discussed challenges affecting implementation.
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